This past Fall semester marked the 10th anniversary of the Faculty’s flagship Meet McGill event. This strategic initiative driven by the Career Services team ensures that our students are exposed to one of the fastest growing cities in North America. The three-day event gave 183 students from the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Management in Finance (MMF) programs the opportunity to network with and learn from alumni, employer representatives, and companies interested in recruiting students from one of Canada’s leading universities.
Active business development in Toronto contributed to new employer involvement in the Meet McGill 2019 program. The trip centred around four key activities: firm tours that gave students the opportunity to experience different workplaces firsthand; speed mock interviews that allowed students to practice and refine their interview skills; employer presentations, speaking panels and case cracking workshops. The highly anticipated Alumni Reconnect Reception brought together 400 McGill Desautels’ Toronto alumni and students, allowing them to further develop and strengthen their Desautels network.
For many students, this was their first opportunity to grow their network in Toronto and engage directly with potential employers.
“[The event] also furthered my motivation and drive concerning my career,” says BCom student Suzanne Benzarti who travelled to Toronto for the event. “It gave me an opportunity to reflect on where I want to go next and what I should work on.”
For BCom student Tommy Pham, the event provided insight into the marketing field. "I had the chance to meet talented individuals in the workforce who took the time to explain the nature of the marketing industry, as well as opportunities available in the field," Tommy says.
"I challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone and it was a truly rewarding decision. Hearing of various backgrounds and experiences truly inspired me to continue pushing towards the best I can be," he continues.
Having an event that brings together students and alumni allowed the McGill pride to flow. McGill alumna (BCom’11) and manager at the Toronto Blue Jays, Jaclyn Leebosh, was grateful to host students at their offices:
“I took great pride in welcoming students through the gates of Rogers Centre this offseason to share a glimpse of working in Major League Baseball”, Jaclyn notes. “I was energized by the students’ keen interest in learning about how their business degrees could be applied to the sports industry.
“I applaud the Desautels Career Services’ commitment to continuing to strengthen the McGill network between Toronto and Montreal”, Jaclyn adds.
The team is already gearing up for 2020’s trip. Employer partners wishing to participate in the upcoming program are invited to connect with lorrie.quigg [at] mcgill.ca (subject: Meet%20McGill%202020) (Lorrie Quigg), Business Development Associate at the Soutar Career Centre. Students wishing to participate should keep an eye out for more information to come at a later date, as well as noting that the application period takes place in September.
